Thermal Chemosensitization of Breast Cancer Cells to Cyclophosphamide Treatment Using Folate Receptor Targeted Gold Nanoparticles

This article explores the application of hyperthermia mediated by alpha human folate receptor (alpha HFR) targeted gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for potentiating the cytotoxicity of cyclophosphamide (CPA) in alpha HFR positive breast cancer cells. Folate functionalized GNPs were delivered to highly alpha HFR positive breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 and to MCF-7 breast cancer cells that does not express detectable levels of alpha HFR followed by hyperthermia. We have shown that hyperthermia induced by folate functionalized GNPs sensitized MDA-MB-231 cells by ten-fold to CPA treatment, whereas MCF-7 cells exhibited only onefold chemosensitization. Collectively, the study suggests the feasibility of using alpha HFR targeted GNPs for facilitating increased cellula r uptake of CPA in cancer cells expressing elevated alpha HFR, allowing reduction in drug dosage.